Mail sorting mechanism



June 1957 F. DVORSKY MAIL SQRTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1953 Frank Dvorsky INVEN 0R.

June 11, 1957 F. DVORSKY MAIL SORTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed may 21, 1953 Frank Dvorsk I I INVEN R. y M4 03... B w

June 11, 1957 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Hay 21,- 1953 y m. r m D M m F INVENTOR.

June 11, 1957 DVORSKY MAIL SORTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21 1953 Frank. Dvorsk I INVENTOR.

BY My.

MAIL SORTING MECHANISM Frank Dvorsky, New York, N. Y.

Application May 21, 1953, Serial No. 356,543

7 Claims. (Cl. 214-11) This invention relates to machines adapted for handling and sorting letters or packages and more particularly to a device by which mail may be sorted and placed in containers corresponding to the final destination of the article of mail.

It is intended that two separate embodiments of this invention be provided, one of the embodiments being specifically adapted to handle letter mail, while the other embodiment thereof being convenient for sorting and handling packages and the like. Both machines function in a very similar manner to deposit in a selected opening the article of mail being sorted.

The construction of this invention features a table having a plurality of openings therein normally closed by flaps hingedly secured to the table. A keyboard is provided and a linkage connects the keyboard to the flaps so that upon actuation of a selected key, a selected flap will be opened thus permitting the mail to fall into the selected opening. In one embodiment of the invention, boxes are connected to the chutes which communicate with the opening and in the other form of the invention adapted for Patented June 11, 1957 Figure 4 is a sectional detail view in an enlarged scale showing the construction of the bracket used for selectively lowering the rotating wheel into engagement with the piece of letter mail;

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view illustrating the construction of the mechanism used for selectively openuse in sorting packages, mail bags are appended to racks secured beneath the table to facilitate the delivery of the sorted mail to its destination.

The primary object of this invention is to decrease the time and effort previously necessary to sort and handle mail.

Other ancillary objects reside in the provision of a mail sorting mechanism that is capable of ready installation in post oflices now existing, which is capable of being constructed at a relatively low cost, yet Which is very easy to operate by only one person, which is strong and durable, and which is relatively attractive in appearance while being highly efiicient in operation.

An important feature of the invention resides in the mechanism for delivering mail to theselected opening, this mechanism being actuated in the letter sorting embodiment of the invention by a floating plate operated by the keyboard. The floating plate is connected to a bracket on which a constantly rotating wheel is supported. The bracket is thus raised and lowered as may be necessary to impart motion to the article of mail beneath the wheel at that time.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package sorting machine constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention adapted for use in sorting letter mail;

a Figure 3 is a perspective view of the construction of the keyboard and the means used for imparting motion to a piece of letter mail;

ing the flaps covering the openings;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view illustrating the construction of the chutes used for letter mail;

Figure 7 is a sectional view as taken along the plane of line 77 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of a box at the end of the conduit; and.

Figure 9 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of the racks for supporting the mail bags beneath the chutes in the embodiment of the invention adapted for delivery for package mail.

With continuing referencev to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the table on which the packages and the like are deposited from the chute 12. The table 10 is provided with side rails or guides 14 for retaining the mail in position on the table. An endless belt 16 is provided for urging the mail towards the series openings 18, normally closed by flaps 26, hinged'ly secured to the table 10. The endless belt 16 imparts kinetic energy into each article of mail sui'licient to propel each article of mail the full length of the table 10. The endless belt 16 extends upwardly through an opening 22 in the top of the table 10. Communicating with the openings 18 are chutes 24 which are arcuate and converging in shape and which areadapted to accurately deposit the packages received through the openings 18 into the mail bags 26, depending from suitable racks 28 mounted beneath the table it). It is to be especially noted that the chutes 24 alternately are directed to first one side of the racks and then to the other side of the racks 28, in order that the staggered mail bags 26 may be positionedin as close confines as possible thus substantially decreasing the length of table 10 necessary for proper sorting of the mail due to the necessity of at least' a given number of openings 13. The mail bags 26 are detachably secured to the racks 28 by means of hooks 30, the racks 23 comprising a pair of parallel members as at 32 interconnected by transverse members 34. Of course, the racks 28 are supported by vertically extending members 36.

A keyboard as indicated at 38, is provided for selectively actuating one of the normally closed'flaps 20 to direct the package into the proper mail bag 26. The keyboard 38 includes a channel-shaped supporting member 40 and .a floating plate 42 which extends inwardly of the table 10 through an aperture 44. A' plurality of keys 46 extends through alined apertures 48 in the channel-shaped'support members 40 and 56. Each of the keys 46 has an indicia 5'2 indicating the location to which the article of mail is to be transported. The keys 46 further includes an elongated shank or. stem 54 having a slot 56 opening into the lower port-ion thereof. Operating rods 58 extending through bearing supports 60 mounted in the inside of the table it have end portions 62 thereof extending normal to the rest of the rods 58 and extending through the slots 56. The other ends 64 of the rods 58 are bent substantially normal to the rest of the rods 58 and are adapted to be engaged beneath the flaps 20 and within the confines of the openings 18. Hence, when a key 46 is depressed, the rods 58 will be rotated, thus, raising the selected fiap 20. In this manner, the selected flap will open and the package will fall through the opening associated with that particular flap and into the respective mail bag 26. g It is to be understood that when the flaps 20 are closed, they provide a surface flush with the rest of 3 the table. It is to be noted that the floating plate 42 has stop members 66 secured across the apertures 50 and beneath the rod portions 62. While this structure is not necessary in the form of the invention, as is shown in Figure 1, it forms an important portion of the letter sorting mechanism illustrated in Figure 2. Herein there is provided a table 68 having raised side guides 70 and 72. The side guides may extend, if desired, along the length of the table in order to prevent any letter mailbecoming accidently displaced. The table 10 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 74 therein, which are normally closed by flaps 76. The flaps 76 are operated by' means of a keyboard 38' of similar construction to the keyboard as shown in Figure l. The precise configuration and number of keys is, of course, merely a matter of design and such number is selected in accordance with the number of openings 74 provided. The keyboard 38 includes, of course, a channel-shaped supporting member 40' and a floating plate 42'. The keys 46f actuate operating rods 58' ofsimilar construction to the operating rods 58 to flip the flaps 76.

It is to be noted that the floating plate 42 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 78 so that when the side of the floating plate 42 is depressed, the other side, as indicated at 80, will raise, pulling upon a motion transmitting mechanism 8-2 consisting of a line 84 and suitable pulley wheels 86. The line 86 is mounted within a groove 88 formed in a shaft 90 forming part of a bracket 92 attached to the side guide 70. The shaft 90 has a downwardly projecting portion 94 which supports a small electric motor 96 which drives a friction wheel 98 adapted to engage an article of mail and urge it toward the openings 74 providing enough kinetic energy to the article of mail to propel the article of mail the full length of the table 68. The electric motor 96 may be supplied with current through a conductor 100, provided with a connector 102 to an outlet box 104 provided in the side guide 70. It is to be noted that the shaft 90 is pivotally mounted on a pin 106 secured in the ends of the bracket 92. There is provided a spring 108 which continuously urges the shaft 90 to an upper position, thus continuously holding the friction wheel 98 in a raised position unless one of the keys 46 is depressed. It is to be noted that the flaps 76, like the flaps iii), are continually urged into a normally closed position by means of springs 110.

Each of the openings 74 is interconnected by chutes 112 to boxes 116 having transparent faces 118. The boxes 116 may be provided with numbers under indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia 52 on the keys 46'. Battles 120 are provided to prevent the flow of letters from jamming or otherwiseobstructing the chutes 112. It is to be especially noted that the chutes 112 are alternatively directedto boxes on either side of the table 68.

The letter mail is positioned above a roller (not shown) extending up through an opening in the table, Another roller 124 extending upwardly through a slot 126 and similar to the roller that is not shown in the drawings, is pro vidcd for continuing ,to impart motion to a letter. This will place the letter directly under the friction wheel 98. It is to be noted that the wheel beneath the stack 122 directs the lowermost letter outwardly through a slit in the lower portion of the front piece 128 of the stack 122.

Referring back again to Figure 1, it will be noted that the operation of the package sorting and bundling device is as follows:

The packages are placed on the table 10 and the endless belt 16 imparts motion to each respective package along the table. The operator will observe the address on the package and press the corresponding key 46 to open the flap 20 for the opening 18 and chute 24 so as to deposit the parcel in the proper sack 26. The operation of the letter sorting mechanism is quite similar. A group of letters are placed within the stack 122 and by means of a roller positioned beneath the stack, the lowermost letter is given motion along the table. This helped by the roller 124.

The operator can then see the name on the address and punch. the proper key 46'. This opens the proper flap 76 permitting the iletter to enter the proper chute and enter the desired box 116. However, upon pressing the key 46, the floating plate 42 will be depressed causing the motion transmitting system 82 to actuate the roller 98 so as to impart motion to the letter. It is to be noted that a conventional stamp cancelling mechanism, as at 130, may be provided as desired.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of this mail sorting device are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table hav ing a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said openings, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereof engaging one of said llaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions thereof extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key one of said rods will be rotated to cause one of said flaps to be opened.

2. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table having a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said openings, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereofcngaging one of said flaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions there of extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key one of said rods will be rotated to cause one of said flaps to be opened, said stems extending through apertures in a resiliently mounted floating plate, stop members on said plate'and engaged by the other end portions of said operating rods whereby upon depression of any of said keys, said floating plate will be depressed.

3. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table having a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said open lugs, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, chutes connected to said openings, and mail containers positioned beneath said flaps and each in individual communication of one of said chutes, said mail containers comprising boxes positioned to one of said boxes on one side of the table and then to a box on the opposite side of said table,-said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of'operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereof engaging one of said flaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions thereof extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key one of said rods will be rotated to cause one of said flaps to be opened.

4. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table having a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said openings, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, chutes connected to said openings, and mail containers positioned beneath said flaps and each in individual communication of one of said chutes, said mail containers comprising boxes positioned to one of said boxes on one side of the table and then to a box on the opposite side of said table, said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereof engaging one of said flaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions thereof extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key one of said rods will be rotated to cause one of said flaps to be opened, said stems extending through apertures in a resiliently mounted floating plate, stop members on said plate and engaged by the other end portions of said operating rods whereby upon depression of any of said key-s, said floating plate will be depressed.

5. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table having a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said openings, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, chutes connected to said openings, and mail containers positioned beneath said flaps and each in individual communication of one of said chutes, said mail containers comprising boxes positioned to one of said boxes on one side of the table and then to a box on the opposite side of said table, said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereof engaging one of said flaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions thereof extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key, one of said rods will be rotated to cause one one of said flaps to be opened.

6. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table having a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said openings, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, chutes connected to said openings, and mail containers positioned beneath said flaps and each in individual communication of one of said chutes, said mail containers comprising boxes positioned to one of said boxes on one side of the table and then to a box on the opposite side of said table, said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereof engaging one of said flaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions thereof extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said.

other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key one of said rods will be rotated to cause one of said flaps to be opened, said stems extending through apertures in a resiliently mounted floating plate, stop members on said plate and engaged by the other end portions of said operating rods whereby upon depression of any of said keys, said floating plate will be depressed, said means for urging said article of mail toward said openings including a bracket, said table having side guides attached thereto, a separately actuated drive wheel suspended from said bracket, resilient means supporting said bracket in a raised position, and actuating means for lowering said bracket to position said wheel in engagement with an article of mail to drive said article of mail toward said openings.

7. A mail sorting mechanism comprising a table having a plurality of spaced openings therein, flaps hingedly secured to said table normally closing said openings, means for delivery of an article of mail onto said table, means for urging said article of mail toward said openings, and control means for selectively opening one of said flaps to deposit said article of mail in a selected opening normally closed by said selected flap, said control means comprising a plurality of keys, a plurality of operating rods engaged by said keys, said rods each having one bent end portion thereof engaging one of said flaps, said keys having elongated stems having slots opening into the lower end thereof, said operating rods having the other end portions thereof extending substantially normal to the rest of said operating rods, said other end portions being received in said slots whereby upon depression of a selected key, one of said rods will be rotated to cause one of said flaps to be opened, said stems extending through apertures in a resiliently mounted floating plate, stop members on said plate and engaged by the other end portions of said operating rods whereby upon depression of any of said keys, said floating plate will be depressed, said means for urging said article of mail toward said openings including a bracket, said table having side guides attached thereto, a separately actuated drive wheel suspended from said bracket, resilient means supporting said bracket in a raised position, and actuating means for lowering said bracket to position said wheel in engagement with an article of mail to drive said article of mail toward said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,031 Jones June 10, 1890 908,377 Barry Dec. 29, 1908 1,823,741 Ielfield Sept. 15, 1931 2,010,130 Barnes Aug. 6, 1935 2,545,116 Sousa Mar. 13, 1951 2,707,569 Benson May 3, 1955 

